NEW YORK (AP) – A New York City woman who spent more than three years on Rikers Island before her trial and served much of it in solitary confinement before being acquitted by a jury last year will stand trial for criminal charges stemming from a jailhouse confrontation with guards.
Candie Hailey’s chaotic Rikers stint and subsequent struggle to return to society was documented earlier this year by The Associated Press. She faces a felony charge of criminal mischief on Monday for breaking a metal chair used to scan inmates’ body cavities for contraband in May 2013, according to an indictment.
Hailey, who was diagnosed with borderline character disorder, mood disorder and anti-social personality disorder at Rikers, could face up to seven years in prison if convicted. She also faces misdemeanor counts of harassment, obstructing government administration and assault.
“Candie has always maintained that her treatment at Rikers was horrible and these charges are an offshoot of horrible treatment that she received,” said her attorney, Patrick Higgins.
Hailey, 32, had an extraordinarily tumultuous time at Rikers, according to interviews as well as medical and jail records obtained by the AP.